After a winter of below-average snowfall, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski is warning of a possible water shortage and calling on city residents to conserve as much as possible.
The mayor on Tuesday officially declared a Stage 1 advisory as part of the city's five-stage water shortage contingency plan. Stage 1 directs the city to inform the public "as early as meaningful data are available that a possible shortage may occur," according to the plan. ... Salt Lake City Fire Marshall Ryan Mellor has ordered firefighters this spring and summer to conduct "dry" fire hydrant inspections only to assess whether they are in working order, said fire department spokeswoman Audra Sorensen. "Rather than opening up hydrants in this low-water year, we will inspect and lubricate hydrant caps, inspect their paint and check to make sure hydrants have proper clearance," Sorensen said. The city's public services department will also "actively monitor water use" in city parks and facilities, said Corey Rushton, the department's communications and administrative services director, encouraging residents to report broken irrigation systems in city parks via the SLC Mobile app.